Chain connecter



May 4 1926. 1,583,330

J. H. YOUNT CHAIN CONNECTER Filed Nov. 12, 1925 y gmntoz c7077)? 12. J0 Z0 6 Guano;

Patented May- 4, 192a UNITED STATES JOHN H.- YOUNT, or PIERCE,

rarer OFFICE.

PENNSYLVANIA,-ASSIG1\TOR 2120 JOHN n.- sHoFF1vnn ,"or DORA, PENNSYLVANIA.

CHAIN CONNECTEB.

' Application file-a November 12,1925. Serial No. 68,603.

Connecters, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to chain connecters and more particularly to a chain connecter by means of which the end links of a chain may be connected to one another without the connecter being permanently secured to either thereof. o

An important object of the invention is to provide a device of this character having two fastening elements, one forengagement with each end of the chain and a single means for locking both of these fastening elements against'movement to the open position. j

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which may be employed as a link in any chain of the link type.

These and other objects I attain by the construction shown in the accompanying drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention and wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of a chain connecter constructed in accordance with my invention, the connecter being shown in the closed position and a chain indicated in dotted lines;

Figure 2 is a similar view with parts of the connecter in the open position;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the connecter with parts in the open position;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view through the connecter showing the fastener for the lever 20; p

Figure 5 is a sectional view showing the retainer for the lever 14. i

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates a casing U-shaped in cross section and having open ends. The-arms of the U' adjacent each end thereof are connected by transversely extending pivot elements 11, 11 and inwardly of each pivot element, these arms are provided with slots 12 and 12 opening through the ends of the arms and having at their inner ends substantially semi-circular coves 13, 13* arranged in-' wardly of a line connecting the pivot ele-. mentsll from the ends of the arms. Upon the pivot element 11 between the arms is mounted a lever 1 1 swingable to a position where it is concealed between the ,arms of the U-shaped member 10. In what is its inner edge when in this position, this lever has formed therein a notch 15, the inner end of which is in the form of a semi-circu lar cove 16 for combining with the cove 13 when: the lever is in saidposition to produce an opening through which la chain link '17 may pass. This chain link, in applying the a device, is first engaged with the cove 16 of the lever after which the lever is swung to its closed position and directed by the cove 16 into the notch 12 and finally intothe cove 13 The lever has formed therethroughadjacent the free end thereof an. opening 18 receiving tits 19 formed upon adjacent faces of the arms of the U bypressing the material of the U inwardlyv at the proper points. These tits serve as a means. for preventing accidental displacement of the lever 14 while manipulating the corresponding lever 20 mounted upon the pivot 11.

The lever 20 is similar in its construction to the lever 14' having a notch 21, the inner end of which forms a semi-circular cove 22, the purpose of which is the same as the purpose of the cove 16. The notch 21, however, inclines toward the outer end of the lever from the cove and the lever 20 is of considerably .greater length than the lever 14, beingof a length equal to the length of the casing 10 and having its end portion 23 shaped to fit against what is the upper surface of the lever 14 when in closed position. This lever has formed therethrough an opening 24 which, when the lever is in closed position, aligns with openings 25 formed in the arms of the U at the approximate center of the casing to permit passage of a securing element, such as a cotter pin 26 therethrough.

The notch 12 has 1ts inner wall or that I placing-the lever 20in its positionin the casing, it is necessary to force the arms apart to permit passage between the corners" In :order to assist the wedging action of the I lever, the face thereof which is in advanceduring movement of the lever to closed position, has its corners slightly bevelle'cl asz at bent-corners 28 may engageto hold'the lever against accidental displacement? It 'will be obvious that a device of this character may Jbe'readily applied toa chain for connectingthe linksofthe'same or-may be 'used' as a link "for joining twolengths of chain.

levers further tow ard the cl0sed-position and to prevent accidental opening thereof. 3 Such accidental opening is, however, positively prevented by the singlesecuring element 26,

locking the lever in position;

After the levers are in closed posi tion,"pull uponvthe chain acts to force'the Since the construction hereinbefo're setforth is obviously fcapable of a certain range ofchange" and modification without materially departing 'frbmthe spirit of the in vention'; I do not "limit' myself to such 'spe-' cific structure eXcept'as hereinafter claimed;

1.'I1fa chain connecter, a U-shaped"casin'gkprovided in the arms thereof adj acent a. link receiving c-ove,;ia lever pivoted between the arms of the casing-at each'end of thecasing and between the notch at such "the opposite ends thereof with aligned notches each formedat its inner end with end-and'the end ofthe casing, each'of said levers havingfla linkireceiving notchand combining with the adJacent notches of the casingwhen1n closed position to provide'a Iink receiVing opening,* said levers when in closed pesitiorr; lyingfin overlapped relation and means extending thro-u'glrthe casing and the-lever which'isarranged outermost in the casing preventing movementofthe lever; 2.-In'-a'chain 'connecterya U shaped casing provided inthe arms thereof "adjacent the opposite 'ends thereof with alignednotches each formed at its inner end with a link receiving-cove, a lever1pivoted between the arms of the casing at each 'end of 'the'casing and between the notch at such end and-the: end of the cas-ing,;.each-:of;said levers having a link receiving notch and comb-111mg with the ad acent notches of the leasing-when in closed position to provide a link receiving opening, said levers when in closed position lying in overlapped relatlon, said casing having detents yleldably engaging said levers-to maintain the same inclosed position.

3. In a chain connecter, a. U-shaped 'cas-- ingprovidedzin the arms thereof adjacent the opposite ends thereof with aligned notches each formed at its inner end with a link receiving cove, a lever pivoted between the arms-of the-casing at eaclrendofthe casing and between the notchj'ati such end and the end of-the casing,'each of said levers havin a l1n'krece1v1n notch andcombining-withthe adjacent-notches of the casing when" in closed position 'to provide a link receiving openingy-said levers when in closed position lying in overlapped re'lation 'and means upon the' casing yielda'bl y engaging tliGOUtGlHlOSt lever when in closed-position to maintain the lever in such position; I

a. In a chain connecterya U shaped cas-- ing provided in the arms thereof adjacent the opposite ends" thereof with aligned notches each formed at its inner end With'a link receiving covet'a lever pivoted between the arms of the casin-g'at 'each end of the casing and between the notch at suclr'endand the end of the casing, each of said levers having a link receiving notch and combining with the adjacent notches of the casing:

when in closed position-to provide a link receiving opening, said levers when lIl closed" position, lying in overlappedwrelation; means upon the casing yieldably engaging thelever which is arranged innermost-tin the casing.- whe'n inclosed POSltlOILfOl resist1ng:move-" mentof the lever.- andfineans extendingthrough the casing and the lever which is ar-y ranged outermost "in 1 the "casing in closed position of the leversfor positively: prevent-P in-g movement of the levers.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix :my

signature.

JOHN" YOUNT." 

